The exit of Barcelona from the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, meant that Atletico Madrid have now made it to the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup to be held in the United States Of America in 2025.
Europe will have 12 teams at the lucrative tournament which will be on from Sunday, June 15, 2025, to Sunday, July 13, 2025.
Winners of the UEFA Champions League in the last four seasons including this current campaign alongside high-ranked teams based on cumulative results in the competition during this timeframe will represent the European continent.
Barcelona commenced action on Tuesday night trailing Atletico Madrid in the rankings to take the second slot from Spain for the Club World Cup and after losing to Paris Saint Germain their fate was confirmed.
If they had won the UEFA Champions League, they would have been guaranteed entry into the monumental tournament.
Atletico Madrid were also bundled out of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, after losing to Borussia Dortmund 5-4 on aggregate.
Atletico Madrid are the 22nd team to book 2025 Club World Cup ticket
Diego Simeone’s side became the 22nd team to qualify for the first-of-its-kind 32-team edition of the Club World Cup that will be hosted by the United States Of America.
The expanded format will be played every four years, instead of the annual edition that was previously in place.
The tournament is expected to fetch massive bucks for teams, with FIFA paying tens of millions of dollars in prize money to each team that will participate in the tournament.
Barcelona, Manchester United, AC Milan will miss out of the tournament
The competition will be without European giants like Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool and AC Milan.
Additionally, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will also not compete, having failed to meet up with the performance parameters.
European clubs that will be participating include the last 3 Champions League winners, namely; Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Manchester City.
High-ranked teams like Bayern Munich, Paris Saint Germain, Inter Milan, FC Porto, Borussia Dortmund, Benfica, Juventus and now Atletico Madrid complete the teams that are confirmed to represent Europe thus far, with one slot still up for grabs.
The last spot will go to either Arsenal if they win the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League or Austrian giants Salzburg.
RB Salzburg could qualify despite being ranked lesser than clubs such as Liverpool, Barcelona, and AC Milan.
Why can’t Liverpool participate despite ranking higher than RB Salzburg?
This is because countries are restricted by FIFA to two entries unless they have above two continental champions.
Flamengo, Palmeiras, and Fluminense are three Brazilian teams that have made it to the competition, having respectively won the last 3 editions of the Copa Libertadores.
Argentina’s historical sides; River Plate and Boca Juniors are likely to participate in the Club World Cup as high-ranked teams in South America’s quota of six entries.
Seattle Sounders and Mexican clubs Leon and Monterrey will be joined by another side from the CONCACAF Confederation.
A slot is also preserved for a team from the United States Of America, as part of a Club World Cup tradition to include champions of host nations.
In Asia, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal and Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds have qualified, while Al Ahly of Egypt and Morocco’s Wydad Casablanca have made it through from Africa.
Auckland City from New Zealand will represent the Oceania region, with the entirety of teams that will participate in the competition expected to be confirmed on November 30, 2024.
This is because the last of the continental club competition finals for 2024 – Copa Libertadores, will be played on that day.
